Apple Pulls AppGratis From App Store for Guideline Violations

AppGratis, a popular app-discovery service, has been banished from the App Store for apparently violating guideline clauses 2.25 and 5.6. Apple recently confirmed the move to AllThingsD, and the Cupertino company recently outlined the specific clauses in question.

Both of the clauses are described as such:

2.25 Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.

5.6 Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind.

Sources closer to Apple shared a more thorough explanation of Apple’s decision to ditch AppGratis. The iPhone maker is apparently displeased with AppGratis’s business model of favoring developers who have the means to pay for the exposure. In addition to helping users discovery apps, AppGratis also promotes paid apps while also offering one for free each day.

“The App Store is intended as a meritocracy,” a source told AllThingsD.

Now that the hammer has been brought down on AppGratis, Apple is reportedly looking at other apps that demonstrate similar violations. AppGratis has yet to comment, so it’s unclear how the service plans to respond and how/if it plans to alter its model.